The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 2 of 6)

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This seems to be a case of the obvious being too...obvious. Of course we should leave S. Korea. Without warnings or empty threats we should simply pack up and leave. We can always come back if necessary and the cost of mobilizing 37,000 soldiers can't be too awfully high.

It is far past time for S. Korea and Japan to move out of their parents' basement and assume their adult roles in the world. They would soon come to the same realization that spoiled, adult children come to soon after being forced to leave the cushy nest. Their parents really are smart and really do know quite a bit after all. It is a humbling experience and can be a positive, life changing one for some.

I don't know offhand what the exact numbers are but I am certain that the GDP's of Japan and S. Korea exceed the GDP of N. Korea by some factor of ten or more, way more. Why in the h*** are we underwriting their defense? With apologies to the histories of valor of the fighting men of S. Korea and Japan, those two countries seem to be acting like the French of late.

p>Another benefit to having S. Korea and Japan assume their weighted role in the region would be the effect it would have on the Red ChiComs. (My kids love to say that). I believe it would bring more, not less, stability to that region of the world. br> -- Mark S. Griffith br> Parker, Co /p>

I agree. We should withdraw our unwanted forces from South Korea. Let the two Koreas settle the issue of dominance, by force if necessary. The current deployment of the 2d Infantry Division in South Korea is nothing short of criminal. Our soldiers live in barracks within range of thousands of North Korean guns and rocket launchers capable of firing 500,000 high explosive rounds an hour for many days. If we were serious about defending South Korea, the 2d Infantry Division would be redeployed south of Route 4 and outside the range fan of North Korean rockets and artillery. Obviously, the North Koreans could still range our soldiers with long range missiles, but the immediate threat to our troops in the opening hours of the next Korean war will be the North Korean artillery. Better yet, put the 2d infantry Division on Guam or Hawaii or California. Fifty years after the Armistice was signed, South Korea should be able to defend itself. That it can't, and continues to rely on U.S. forces to do the job, is a sickness readily cured.

p>Let South Korea find out what the intentions are of its charming northern neighbor. Maybe South Korea will finally get serious about its own defense and start stockpiling the ammunition and purchasing the advanced weapons it requires to repulse a North Korean attack. Right now, South Korea isn't ready. It lacks spare parts for its equipment and hasn't purchased the ammunition required to defend itself. As long as the U.S. continues to keep forces in South Korea and foot the bill for fielding an adequate defense, the South Koreans will remain content to lambaste us and claim we are impeding reunification with their charming northern cousins. I say let them meet face-to-face, as I am sure they will someday, on the battlefield and decide for themselves if they really got their "bang for the Won" with the so-called Sunshine Policy. I'm sure they'll hear the bang, but the Won won't readily translate into a win. br> -- Mike Slater /p>

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